ISLAMABAD: The Constitutional Court on Tuesday voiced strong criticism of customs authorities for detaining oil tankers for almost three years in connection with an Iranian oil case. The court highlighted serious safety and humanitarian concerns due to the prolonged seizure of potentially flammable cargo.
During the hearing, a three-member bench led by Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi questioned the justification for the extended detention of tankers allegedly carrying inflammable substances. The judge remarked, “If a fire is caused by someone’s cigarette, who would be responsible?” emphasizing the dangerous risks posed by continued impoundment.
Additionally, the court pointed out that the drivers of these tankers likely lost their jobs because of the lengthy detention.
In the course of proceedings, customs counsel Wasim Sajjad argued that the tankers were involved in smuggling Iranian petroleum products. Conversely, the importer’s counsel contended that the cargo consisted not of petrol but of light aliphatic hydrocarbons.
Justice Roshan Khan noted that hydrocarbons can be chemically processed or blended to create petroleum products, describing this as a significant commercial activity. The bench stressed the importance of clarifying the exact nature of the cargo before moving forward.
In a significant development, the court ordered laboratory testing of the hydrocarbon material to be completed within 15 days. It further directed that if the test results were satisfactory, the tankers should be released under suitable security measures.
Moreover, the court instructed the relevant forum to resolve the matter within 30 days after the laboratory report is submitted.
